Shoe-stretcher.



J. CONTOS. SHOE STRETGHER APPLICATION FILED 13170.26, 1913.

1,1 17, 1 64. Patented Nov. 17, 1914:.

N '0, /15 My I inventor Attorneys.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. PHOTULITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CONTOS, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA,-ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE VARSAMIS, 0F GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

sHoE-s'rREroHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN CoN'ros, a citi-.

zen of the United States, residing at Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have inventedv a new and useful Shoe-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe stretchers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe stretcher which may be used in shoes of different sizes and styles.

A further object is to provide a stretching device for shoes which may be used with shoes of different styles and which includes a pivotally mounted heel block with means for locking the same in adjusted angular position so as to conform with the shoe to be stretched and which prevents the heel block from turning up atits front portion as the force is applied for the stretching of the shoe.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention-resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, in which Figure 1 illustrates a shoe in dotted lines with my improved shoe stretcher operably positioned therein and with portions thereof broken away clearly disclosing the structural details thereof. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of my improved stretcher, illustrating the same within a shoe of somewhat diiferent style than that disclosed in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of my improved shoe stretcher. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the outer toe block. Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective with portions thereof broken away of the cap attachable to the'toe blockv Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 26, 1913.

Patented Nov.'1'7, 1914. Serial No. 808,826.

ures, a threaded rod 7 is provided at one to the outline of the back of a shoe andagainst-which the said block is'adapted to contact. The heelblock is provided with the slot 11 extending therein, the bottom of which is inclined with respect to the bottom 12 of the block. The said slot thus defines two upstanding ears 13 through which extend the transversely alined apertures 11. I Y

Extending through the. transversely alined apertures 14 isthe pivot pin 15 which in turn is provided with the transverse threaded aperture 16 through which the threaded rod 7 passes. The rod 7 is of such size as to fit within the slot 11 and to hold the pin 15 against longitudinal shifting. Thus the rod 7 may advance or retract the. heel block while at the same time the heel block may swing upon the pivot pin15 to thus vary the obliquity of the heel block taken with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod 7.

The front wall 17 of the heel block is inclined at an acute angle to the bottom 12 and contacting therewith is the adjusting member 18. The adjusting member is provided with the threaded aperture 19 and through which extends the rod 7'. The projection 20 fits within and contacts with the side walls of the slot;11. The-side walls of the adjustingmember adjacent the proj ection 20 are inclined as at 21 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aperture 19 andapproximate the angle defined, by the front wall 17 and the rod 7.

A toe block 22 is provided of such size and shape as to fit within and conform-to the toe of an ordinary shoe and is provided with a pivotpin 23 extending thereacross and which is journaled in the alined apertures 24. The pin 23 is enlarged at its central portion as at 25 and through which extends the opening 26 for the rotatable reception of the end 27 of the rod 7. A suitable shoulder 28 is formed upon the extremity of the projection 27 and which in connection with the washer 29 prevents the said projection from becoming detached from the toe block. Thus the toe block may be placed within the toe of a shoe and the rod 7 freely rotated independently thereof or the angularity between the said block and the rod mav be varied.

An outer toe block 30 is provided and through which extends the aperture 31 adapted to aline with a similar aperture 32 extending through the toe block 22. A pin 33 extends through the apertures 31 and and holds the outer toe block rigidly to the main one and at the same time provides for the ready detachment therefrom. The toe blocl: E22 and the outer toe block 30 are provided with a plurality of depressions 3% into which is adapted to extend the protrusion 353 of the plate 36. The plate 36 is thus adapted to detachably engage the toe bloclrs and form a projection for the stretching of the leather of a shoe to fit over corns or bunions, or for similar purposes. Thus the toe block may be varied in size by removing the outer casing 30 if it be so desired. Also the plate 36 provides a projection which will apply a local stretching to the leather of the shoe should it be so desired.

The stretcher as outlined may be used with shoes of different styles and with the heel block resting firmly upon the heel of the shoe and contacting in a symmetrical manner with the rear wall thereof. This desirable feature is accomplished by the adjusting member 18 which when the projection 20 thereof is locked within the slot 11 is held against rotation and thus the distance between the pin 15 and the adjusting member will be a fixed quantity so that the angularity of the rod 7 and bottom wall 12 of the block will also remain fixed. When the rod is rotated, the heel block will be prevented from moving about the pivot pin as a center due to the fact that the front wall 17 will contact with the walls 21 of the adjusting member and which will prohibit any such rotation. When new it is desired to vary the angular adjustment of the bottom 12 of the heel block with respect to the rod 7 such as will be necessary when the stretcher is used in connection with a shoe having a high heel such as represented in El 2 of the drawings, the rod 7 and pin 15 will be rotated until the adjusting member 18 moves free of the slot 11, at which time the rod 7 is rotated relative to the pin 15 but held stationary with respect to the adjusting member 18. Thus the distance between the adjusting member and the pin will be changed with the result that the adjusting member will contact with the front wall. 17 of the heel block at a different point than before and with the resulting change in the angular position of the rod 7' and the heel block, as it is thought will be readily appreciated. A plurality of the casings or outer toe blocks as illustrated in Fig. 5 may be provided should it be so desired. The rotating of the rod 7 accomplished through the medium of the handle 8 will result in the heel and toe blocks being either advanced or retracted depending upon whether the shoe is being stretched or the stretcher is being removed therefrom.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A shoe stretcher comprising a threaded rod, means whereby the same may be engaged for the rotation thereof, a heel block pivotally and rotatably secured to said rod, the heel block provided with a pivoted pin, said pin provided with a threaded aperture extending therethrough, said aperture receiving the said rod therethrough, and an adjusting member threadedly secured to said rod and adapted to engage the said heel block and be prevented from rotation thereby, the said adjusting member contacting with the front face of said heel block and holding the same in angular adjusted position.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising a threaded rod, a heel block pivotally and threadedly connected thereto, and means carried by the rod engaging the heel block and limiting the pivoting action thereof.

3. A. shoe stretcher including a threaded rod, a heel block pivotally and threadedly engaging the same, and an adjusting member thieadedly engaging said rod and arranged to engage said heel block and preventing the pivoting action thereof.

41-. A shoe stretcher including a threaded rod, a heel block pivotally and threadedly engaging the same, and an adjusting member threadedly engaging said rod, and slidably and non-rotatably engaging the said heel block for limiting the pivoting action thereof.

5. A shoe stretcher including a threaded rod, a heel block pivotally and threadedly secured thereto, said heel block provided with a slot extending therein, and an adjusting member threadedly engaging said rod, extending within said slot and held against rotation thereby, the front slotted face of said heel block being inclined, and the said member engaging the inclined face of the heel bloc r and holding the same at adjusted angles with respect to the rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CONTOS.

Witnesses:

.l'. GunNDnL. THOMAS V. McGowan.

Uopies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. t3. 

